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Bamboo Shoots!

Age 35, Male

Poet/Designer/Etc

ACCOMPLISHED

Sweden

Joined on 1/17/04

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VicariousE 2013-05-20 09:29:46

:O All madly interesting, glad you got a better card!
Death Race... I saw the first (original Death Race with Sly Stallone) one on broadcast TV in the late 70's (minus all the quick little pieces of violence, and the nudity was taken out, by having a machine pan around the naughty bits... movie ended up being 45 minutes after that :|
But, yeah, private companies suck when all they care about is money, whereas the government has to be held accountable and hire better people.

Cyberdevil 2013-05-20 09:29:46

Thanks; glad these random rants are readable! :)

Death Race 2000? That was something else. The remake is a recommended watch though, with Statham instead of Stallone, though the two sequels after that didn't have much to contribute (other than money for the makers). So the censored version was only 45 minutes huh, short.

Yeah, that's the way it should be. Would also help to greatly reduce politician wages, so the people who chose such positions do so without regard for the money, but rather with an ambition to serve. Oh man I'm ranting again...

S3C 2013-05-20 18:10:56

the only swedish movie i have seen is "the girl with a dragon tattoo"nd was quite impressed with how it turned out, outside of the first action scene, which was terrible lmao. That noomi rapace is quite easy on the eyes but in a strange way. havent read the books though, and the american version didn't look as good.

that comment left by VicariousE about America is overly hyperbolic and not representative of all of our Western culture. I'm not saying people have it bad over here, because people do, but in general and at large the economic and political "crisis" is laughable compared to the oppressiveness and poverty found in some if not most of the third and second world countries. That's not to say I support the politicians. I didn't vote for Obama, nor Romney. I also don't think either of them are the antichrist, inherently evil, and a part of some secret group that has been intentionally scheming against the "sheep" since centuries ago. I think the corruption that can happen is a very gradual thing...Politicians want you to pick a side, vote for one, and plot parties against each other as that gives them more attention and power. If more and more people where to vote for third parties or not vote at all, ignore mainstream politics (aka the liberal vs conservative dick measuring contest) the parties that have actual power and money might actually pay more attention to getting shit done and focusing on working together.

Cyberdevil 2013-05-20 18:10:56

Ah, I haven't seen that one myself, but I definitely should. I don't watch enough Swedish movies, ironically. Kopps (2003) and Wolf (2008) were pretty good, if you ever stumble upon them. :)

Yeah, it's pretty much the same way in Sweden, elections have turned from something necessary to just a game for already renowned and worthless political parties. It's either socialists or moderates (roughly translated), and if either don't seem to be getting enough votes they form alliances with other, smaller parties, that have always been on the sidelines representing certain groups of people. When new ones rise up to really address the issues in society, they are ignored completely. Each election brings a load of promises, of which most are scrapped soon after elections are over, budgetary issues, etc. Would be nice with someone in charge who cared more about their own salary. In the US it seems like the presidents do have visions though, that they want to change things for the better, or is that just a facade they put on?

S3C 2013-05-20 18:14:23

also, saying that Americans cannot speak out against the government...that is completely untrue. There is a myriad of websites calling Obama an NGer (add an extra G and a vowel in there), comparing him to Hitler, saying he's a Muslim trying to covertly take over the US...South Park is extremely controversial. there's many more websites that contain conspiracy theories, and the government could care less, because that's usually all they are, just conspiracy theories. Why isn't the Wikileaks banned in the US? Why isn't Google censored like they do in China? As long as you're not making threats or defamation whatever you may say in the U.S. is covered by the first amendment and perfectly OK. there is no fed waiting to get or warn you, although I do hear that tinfoil hats may cause such hallucinations.

isn't copying (sometimes incorrectly referred to as piracy) intellectual property legal in Sweden, if not encouraged? if so, taxing on hard drive space seems like a legitimate taxation, it may be end up being more beneficial to the developers (but not so much to large publishing corporate CEOs) as well. even if you dont partake in file-sharing activities there's still legitimate reason to get taxed IMO. i've never had to use an ambulance (knock on wood) but I don't mind my tax dollars going towards the saving of another person's life, and if I have to pay an extra five dollars a month to give another less fortunate person health care, then so be it. of course there's always the other side- an overall decrease in the quality of medical care, longer waiting times for those who could actually afford previous premiums which could eventually lead to death, etc. I'd also like to think that in a perfect world there would be some socialistic division of wealth, where everyone has enough money to put a roof over their head, put foods in their mouths, and live a healthy life, and no one makes more than 10 million dollars a year (which is still A LOT) to avoid creating a classless society. But the downside to that is the end/decrease of philanthropies and charitable organizations- however, such institutions may not even be necessary if the wealth was more evenly spread.

Cyberdevil 2013-05-20 18:14:23

Hehe, would be cool if Obama was an NGer though. ;)

Not to take sides here, but I'd think the government cares about their image enough not to censor Google or ban Wikileaks. People would see that as a turn against democracy, though they seem to turn against it anyway with all the recent attacks on the Internet. I'm hoping the MegaUpload case will manage to make a difference though, because if the US is allowed to legally censor what they like it's not going to end well, most of the top-level domains in the world are managed by the US.

Tinfoil is actually great protection against electromagnetic radiation, from mobile masts ex. Not that I wear tinfoil hats or anything...

As for Piracy, it is not legal or officially encouraged here in Sweden, it's just that it's taken so long for the government to react to the 'threat' that a good deal of the people no longer think piracy is morally wrong. So many of the largest file-sharing sites and movements started here. There's a strong front for freedom on the Internet, the ideal that culture should be free, the sharing is caring... but the APB (Anti-Piracy Bureau) is constantly trying to scare people by giving file-sharers they do catch unjust sentences, prison time if they can. They have a bigger taskforce dedicated to hunting file-sharers than they do child-molesters/pornographers.

The big TPB trial that took place in Sweden was bullshit. Though the site was in fact not breaking any current laws by indexing .torrent links, nor making any money, the owners were all sentenced to pay millions in fines, and one of them has been doing prison time for about a year. One of the main leading witnesses in the case suddenly moved to Hollywood and now has a well-paid job there, and it was revealed that many of the judges (or whatever they're called) had ties to the APB, one was a close friend, it was as far from an objective trial as it could get.

I wouldn't mind the tax on storage devices so much if it was legal, nor mind the wellfare taxes if they were lower. Does 30% seem justifiable? Well, in a perfect society it might, but it's an abused system. To top it off the government keeps loaning money from other countries... to give away to other countries! As I see it, we need to care of ourselves foremost, and if there's an excess of resources, then we can help others.

S3C 2013-05-20 18:23:24

One point that I would entirely agree with you guys regards how a multitude of Americans believe that their form of government is the best and should be implemented into other cultures. That is incorrectly assuming all cultures in the world operate like Americans. always said that the problem is not the political system itself, but the people who find holes in the system and take advantage of it. Socialistic (if the right word to use) parties work when the majority of people buy into the system and genuinely want to give back to the society and make their communities a better place. There will always be free education for those that need/want it, there will always be doctors available to give you treatment regardless if you can afford it, etc. (Btw- American education at a university level is a massive scam, my tuition for a semester is 5000-6000$, to park on campus is ~700$, housing and food if you live on campus is at minimum an additional 2000$...half of the teachers are just assholes reading off slides from a powerpoint anyway. I can get superior education by going to a library, visiting Khan Academy and posting on forums relevant to my interests and have a more personal not to mention FREE learning experience) Like I think you vaguely mentioned in a response below, people are a held to an honor code to do their part. Detractors to your form of government may cite that a socialism (again, not sure if the actual system you guys have in Sweden, just using socialist as a blanket term) induces laziness and creates an outlet for people to mooch off the amenities provided by the system, which is a valid reason. Capitalism could be a better political-economical environment to "keep people in check" when there's a lot of corrupt people who disregard such honor code. Socialism probably work in America considering how entitled and uncompassionate some people are. . Like everything else, the system is America is people turning invaluable institutions like education and medicine into maximizing revenue as their #1 priority.

Cyberdevil 2013-05-20 18:23:24

On that we agree. So it costs you over 8000$ / semester? I don't even have that much saved up...

Yeah, education is generally free in Sweden. There are private schools that require payment, but for all the 'official' ones, it doesn't a cost a thing, including university. Anyone can apply for a basic grant, which means you'll get around $1500 each semester to finance your studies. They used to provide free education and grants to students from abroad as well, but thankfully they've stopped doing that! People were applying for studies here like crazy for a while...

The wellfare system definitely encourages laziness, and it's been going for so long that most people just don't care anymore. It breeds stagnancy. With good leaders, it'd be a good system, but if the system is created to control the individual, it's not so good. I'm thinking this place could use a good dictator to sweep away all this injustice, but that might be the wrong thing to wish for...

S3C 2013-05-20 18:23:30

And when you make $$ your main priority is where the corruption starts. so easy to fall in the trap, and especially easy for me to highlight how capitalism can be taken advantage of when I have zero intentions of starting a family, and thusly money should never be a huge problem for me.

Cyberdevil 2013-05-20 18:23:30 (Updated 2013-05-22 03:41:18)

True that. Here, poor people make babies to get child support. ;)

Maybe that's the wrong term though, what I mean is, a parent gets one paid year away from work + a certain sum each month. The more kids, the more money + free time + there are additional grants for having multiple kids. IMO there are enough people in the world already, so they should get rid of ^ ASAP.

BumFodder 2013-05-20 19:23:01

Have fun paying your tv licence!

Cyberdevil 2013-05-20 19:23:01

Oh man, I can't wait, it's going to be so awesome! >:(

Golden-Chicken 2013-05-21 11:43:18

So what have you been up too lately Cyber? :)

Cyberdevil 2013-05-21 11:43:18

Oh nothing much, just... ordered a new computer with an 8-core 3,1Ghz AMD processor, 8GB RAM and a GPU with 2GB VRAM. Something broke along the way, I sent it in for repair, and I'll be getting it back later today. Can't wait! :D

VicariousE 2013-05-21 13:40:57

Easy way to beat corruption, is to pay them above and beyond a living wage.... and watch them!
I believe Singapore does the same (wacky as they an be), and so far, so good I guess.....

:\ Gerkinman sez the Portal's broken, now the FP social/fav update thing is broke. I know NG is run by only a few techs, but, c'mon :(

Cyberdevil 2013-05-21 13:40:57

Them as in the people?

Yeah, I read the post, and tried reading most of the shitloads of comments that followed. Was pretty interesting to read about Tom's thoughts and insights on the issue. They really need to get all these bugs fixed though, quick, you'd think it would be top priority. Like, no time for meals, Pico Day parties or family time until it's working again. :/

VicariousE 2013-05-22 05:28:50

Ha, touche... the people.... I was told Germany 'administrated' Poland and Sweden before the world wars! Nice enough people, the Poles and Swedes, to the point they knew they couldn't trust themselves..... plus I'm Polish, go figure o_0

You're right of course. That's why I've more or less been on Tom... Seems like a lot of the other 'big tools' don't keep up with the newsposts |: Plus, yeah, Tom making games, parties, daily NG surfing and minding the store.... They need our German members to go over there (to NG HQ) and kick some butt and take some code ('Take names and kick ass', old expression)!

At least the multipost prob is kaput.

Cyberdevil 2013-05-22 05:28:50 (Updated 2013-05-22 05:49:16)

Payment beyond a living wage doesn't seem to be working very well for politicians specifically, but maybe it's the combination of power and financial surplus that calls to mankind's darker personality traits. For regular people, hmmm, well of course it's better than a society where everybody gets paid below a living wage, but the problem is there is no balance, and can there be balance? If everyone gets paid, where's the money coming from? If we don't feed directly upon the planet, it's upon other people.

Oh, you're Polish! I have an adopted Polish cousin, not that it's at all relevant. Apart from the suspect quality of imported mushrooms it seems like a nice place. :)

Heh, that'd be some added efficiency to the workforce!

Just tried multiposting and... you're right! It's gone! Nice! I predict the comment counts on future posts will take a sudden dive...

S3C 2013-05-22 16:38:18

Nietzlawe always leaves the best comments. and oh yeah, how could i forget Kopz, well i haven't seen it, but the crotch shooting cop scene is a famous gif on the world wide webs. will try to respond to the rest of your comments later, as long as I don't eaten by an alligator or more likely get told to shut up by a dictator, even though he's the one that's the instigator.

Cyberdevil 2013-05-22 16:38:18

They are good. :)

So it's internationally famous! I am completely oblivious to which Swedish movies actually bridge the continental divide, that's good to hear. The movie's a lot more than that cop scene, it's not mean, it's comical like it's not Sheen, drugged up like he's mocking the world with all it's not seen. Greatness and in-doctrine to stop seams from popping but popcorn is an option while I'm pausing playing stopping. Yeah...

VicariousE 2013-05-22 20:55:44

Impressive prose gentlemen! Wish it was in my nature to do that....

Cyberdevil 2013-05-22 20:55:44

Appreciation great is taken into mind till grinded vacant, will to find new rhymes is making, me go wild at times forsaking, studies and stuff. You are a good writer though, practice and will are the tactics of skill. ;)

VicariousE 2013-05-23 14:17:41

Okay... why is this still going on? I figured I'd wait a day or two for this to settle but, don't they realize it's only hurting themselves and their communities? <a href="http://ca.news.yahoo.com/sweden-riots-expose-ugly-side-nordic-model-142150025.html">http://ca.news.yahoo.com/sweden-riots-expose-u gly-side-nordic-model-142150025.html</a>

Cyberdevil 2013-05-23 14:17:41

Ah, didn't know it was international news. I've just been waiting for some consequences of our excessive immigration to show, and here it is. I'm all for a ethnic variation, but there's no way a small country like Sweden can harbor a hundred thousand new immigrants each year (total population is less than 10 million) and expect everybody to adapt to society, especially not with the financial meltdown going on around the world. Everybody who tries to slow immigration down is called a racist, and people are just so damn naive. Hopefully this'll be an eye-opener for them.. btw, the riot started all because an immigrant who threatened/attacked a police officer with a machete was shot down. I don't think lawful harassment is as much of an issue as they claim..

Nor 2013-05-23 17:38:36

lol wassup

Cyberdevil 2013-05-23 17:38:36

lol wokeup, you?

VicariousE 2013-05-23 19:06:48

I'm not your average ugly American :) I've known about your somewhat liberal immigration policy for some time now... but, yeah, it's gotta slow down. Your infrastructure's gonna get swamped soon enough. Hopefully, your country has tests, to make sure they know the language, laws and history of Sweden... it's the least they can do, for being in a safe, Western society :|
At least you didn't have pair of psychopaths, ramming a car into a solider, and chopping him the fuck up, in broad daylight!! Glad I didn't see any of that video :| Happened yesterday about this time, near London...

Cyberdevil 2013-05-23 19:06:48

So it seems. :) It is swamped... and no tests, immigrants are allowed to learn languages of their choice in addition to Swedish, there's no requirement they actually learn Swedish, and history's only applicable n school, not for people just now entering the country. :/

Woah, plenty of witnesses then? Did they catch the psychos?

KrevZabijak 2013-05-23 21:33:33

Who you is? What you friend me for?

Cyberdevil 2013-05-23 21:33:33

I am me, who are you? There must've been a valid reason at the time.. which must been a while ago. Name sounds familiar though.

VicariousE 2013-05-24 03:42:19

Are you kidding? They waited for the armed cops to show up, then stormed them with knives and a crappy handgun, that backfired and blew one of the murder's fingers clean off!
<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2329951/Woolwich-attack-How-MI5-ex-prisoner-sights-preached-Poundland-just-yards-murder-scene.html">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-232995 1/Woolwich-attack-How-MI5-ex-prisoner-sights-p reached-Poundland-just-yards-murder-scene.html </a> This article has a lot of backstory, but the pictures speak for themselves.

That's terrible, I couldn't have guessed that, but after all these years, of the same immigration policy.... I should've guessed it :( Maybe they need to bend on taxes around the crowded parts of Stockholm, and build some factories, start building homes... and make a double digit cut in immigration, till the country can absorb them properly :|

Cyberdevil 2013-05-24 03:42:19

Ah, thanks for the link. It seems twisted things are happening in the world. :/ Your initial description of the event made it seem they were professional, I was thinking they wouldn't have done such a thing in broad daylight without managing to get away, all for the rush, or something. Glad to hear the were taken care of.

They could start by giving immigrants less of a bonus when they arrive. Everyone is given free dental care, free health-care, paid phone calls (even abroad), an initial sum to buy furniture/etc, and allowance until they get settled in, get a job, etc. I'm not sure what the limitations for this service are, but it's way too lenient. A tenth would seem fair to me, 10,000/year is still much more than most neighboring countries take in. It seems the politians like to play on the of the populace though, delivering the message that we need to help everybody, but in the long run this isn't going to help anyone. The world's unstable enough as it is.

Nor 2013-05-24 13:31:10

lol nothing, bored

Cyberdevil 2013-05-24 13:31:10

lol do something, fun

S3C 2013-05-27 02:54:07

you should send the me the solo vocals for diamond rimz :P

Cyberdevil 2013-05-27 02:54:07

Yeah :P

ChandlerThompson 2013-05-28 04:51:21

yea

Cyberdevil 2013-05-28 04:51:21

yea

S3C 2013-05-28 16:01:04

don't you leave for your annual summer hibernation soon? :P

Cyberdevil 2013-05-28 16:01:04

In less than two weeks now!! There's always so much I want to sort out before I leave! :/

Vocals are on the way btw...

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